A Story You'll Never Forget

"Ew, what's this?" you probably just said. But oh, this is just the beginning....

I'm Kyle, residing in Queens, NY. I'm fundraising for a beloved family member who shall remain anonymous for privacy reasons. I'm doing this along with a few other family members to support someone who we all love deeply and feel so helpless for. To have someone you care so much about and to see terrible things happen to them again, and again, and to see this individual somehow continue to be so strong, it's really inspirational.

I can only hope that this would help them financially through all of her current struggles, but also to show her that she's not alone, she has family, she has people who she doesn't even know, who care, who want to help, and who are as optimistic as she is. That this is not the end by any means and that we're here for her. 

But let's rewind a bit to childhood when she had to be independent, with a single father working in business, at the age of 11. Going to school on your own, getting home, having your dad be at work all the time, feeding yourself, laundry, everything. At the age of 11.

Then things just get worse... and worse... Fast forward to 2020 when everything went haywire.

She became unemployed due to non-essential businesses closing. She seemed more or less unworried. Optimistic. 

Then, our family had to endure the loss of our grandmother due to COVID-19 in April. While some grieved alone, others grieved together, virtually and it was such a new experience for all of us but put such a big hole in all of our hearts. 

But what is even more heartbreaking now is that we just lost my cousin's father earlier this week. My uncle. My mothers' brother. So many relationships affected by this loss. So many words lost, unspoken, now silenced by yet another death in the family.

Wait, is this real? Is this a tragedy film? No... it's our new reality...

Instinctually, we jump to the rescue, as family, as humans, as social creatures. But with this current climate, there is so little we can do. But watch helplessly and try and offer virtual support. 

But it doesn't end there...

She decided she'd cook something to take her mind off of things a couple of days after the passing of her father. And what started as a distraction of a meal, quickly became a kitchen fire and caused 3rd degree burns to 5% of her body. She's been in the hospital since, waiting for her scheduled surgery next week.

I wished this was joke. Because it's so damn sad. But this is my cousin's life. I can only hope that we can raise enough money to cover her dad's funeral bills, to cover the cost of her medical bills, and for her to relax even just a little, while so many awful things are happening around her, us, and everyone else. Please help my loved one through these difficult times. It would absolutely be life changing for her.